By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Long Beach saw a record February for cargo volume, moving 661,790 TEUs, according to data released Tuesday.
This represents a 32.8 percent jump from the same period last year and the first time the port surpassed 600,000 cargo containers in the month.
The port also handled 342,247 TEUs in imports, a 37 percent rise from February 2017, and 130,916 TEUs in exports for a 9.3 percent increase year over year.
The numbers reflect the recent trend of ocean carriers sending a steadier flow of cargo, said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “A month like this is now the new normal,” he explained, adding that the results would have been one of the biggest months of the year a decade ago.
“We expect a lull in March as East Asian nations celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, and then a rebound in April. We’re very happy with our busy start to 2018.”
